Flood-fence



(Men H. HUFFMAN, Jr.

- FLOOD FENCE.

Patented'Aug. 4, 1891.

I unl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC HENRY HUFFMAN, JR, OF STELVIDEO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES HENRY GREYVE, OF GREENVILLE, OHIO.

FLOOD-FENCE.-

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,991, dated August 4, 1891.

I Application filed December 11, 1890. Serial No. 374,389. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HUFFMAN, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Stelvideo, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Fences; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in flood-fences, and has as its object a device that will obviate the destruction of fences and ordinary gates by debris, ice, &c., during freshets, which wash them away, and also to save time, money, and labor.'

To these ends my invention consists in certain features of novelty, to be hereinafter described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fence constructed according to my invention, and in position it assumes at low water, looking downstream. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position the fence assumes at high water. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on line 00 00, Fig. 1, showing the position the fence assumes at low water in full lines and the position it assumes at high water in dotted lines.

The reference-letter a indicates the posts or uprights to which the fenceis secured,and Z) the mud-sill connecting the posts. These posts maybe driven into the bed of the stream or alongside the banks, as desired.

The fence is composed of a base log or beam 0, of suitable material and shape, upwardly from which project vertical pickets (l, secured in any preferred manner thereto.

The fence is secured to the posts by means of anchoring-chains (2, one at each post, secured to the posts at f and to the base-log of the fence at g. These chains prevent the fence from breaking away from the posts.

The fence is arranged to tilt on a pair of adjustable supports h, which also act as braces to the posts, being pivotally connected at their outer ends by means of bolts ito short posts or stakes j, and being adj ustably connected at their inner ends to the posts by means of removable bolts or pins k, that pass through the vertical series of holesZ in the posts and through the series of holes h in the supports. Each supporting-brace is shouldered at m to provide recesses n, in which the base-log of the fence turns and has bearing, said base-log being provided with recesses o in its outer lowerside which receive the shoulders m. The combined function of the shoulders m of the supports hand the re cesses 0 of the base-log is to prevent the overturning or tilting of the fence by low water or stock, thus keeping the latter in their inclosure; but when the water rises so as to raise the fence it tilts, and as soon as the water subsides the fence drops back to place. Oonfining-guides p on the posts are provided for the base-log c. The vertical adjustment of the supporting-braces 7L permits of the supporting of the fence at any desired height in its bearings, so that it may be raised or lowered to the water-line.

Slight changes may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and such changes will readily suggest themselves to any skilled mechanic.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a flood-fence having a base-log and posts or uprights, supporting-braces for the posts on which the baselog rests loosely when the fence is in upright position, said fence being adapted to turn when raised from the supports by the force of the water, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a flood-fence and posts or uprights, supporting-braces, stakes to which they are pivoted at theirouter ends, and adjustable connections for the other ends of the braces with the posts, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with posts or uprights and a flood-fence consisting of abase-log provided with recesses and pickets projecting from the log, shouldered supports secured to the posts and providing bearings for the fence, the shoulders being adapted to enter the recesses of the base-10g, substantially as 5 set forth.

adjustable on the posts and providing .bear- IO ings for the fence, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

T 4. In combination with posts or uprights I HENRY Hb FFMAN J and a flood-fence consisting of abase-log pro- -Witnesses: vided with recesses and pickets projecting SWAN JUDY, from the log, shouldered supports vertically WM. FOUTZ. 

